Page 93 - Pastoral Ministries -Student Textbook

Fellowship is God’s provision for building up believers in Christian
maturity by meeting their individual needs through personal
interaction with other members of the Body of Christ.

Motivating for Stewardship

God takes generosity and giving very seriously. We are
commanded to take care of those less fortunate than us. Jesus
told us that when we care for those who are less fortunate than
us, we are really caring for Him. When it comes to giving, God
promises a special blessing and a return on investment. We give
to God as an expression of our love for Him. We give to honor
Him. We are to give with a joyous heart with thanksgiving for all
that He has done and provided for us.

Are we under the law of the tithe?

Many pastors of churches today
teach that believers are commanded to tithe 10% of their income to the church.
For every S10 you receive, you need to give S1 to the church. Most of the time
these preachers use many Old Testament passages like Malachi 3:8-10 and Haggai
2:8 to support their teaching. So is this teaching applicable for the New Testament
church? Has God commanded you to tithe 10% of your income? And should you
tithe 10% of the gross you make, or 10% of the net (after taxes are taken out)? Are you to teach this to your
church members? Let’s study the tithe in God’s Word and try to answer these questions.

What is the Tithe?
The word "tithe" comes from an Old English root meaning "one tenth." It is the common English translation for
the Old Testament Hebrew asar word group. The tithe was an offering of one's agricultural or animal income to
the Lord as an expression of thanks and dedication. In the Old Testament agricultural economy, tithes were paid
not in cash, gold or goods but in crops or livestock, for only the agricultural fruit of the promised land was to be
tithed—not other forms of income.

There were three tithes in the Old Testament. In Lev. 27:30-33 and Numbers 18:20-21, Israel was commanded
to tithe 10% to the Levites for their sustenance. In Deut. 12:17-18 a tithe every year was also given to the
tabernacle or temple for provisions in gathering for Passover. Finally, once every three years another 10% was
given to the priests to provide provisions for those who were orphans and widows (Deuteronomy 26:12-15) (see
verses below).

So, the two tithes each year equaled 20% of their crops and livestock, and another 10% was given every third
year (an average of 3.3% annually) for distribution to the poor. In other words, the Mosaic tithe in the Old
Testament averaged of 23.3 percent of one's annual produce from the land or herds. There was also provision
for freewill offerings and personal giving above and beyond the tithe, so that the tithe never stood alone.

Tithes were given by the patriarchs Abraham (Genesis 14:17-20) and Jacob (Genesis 28:22) BEFORE the law
system of the tithe came into being. God through Moses (Deuteronomy 12; Deuteronomy 14 Deuteronomy 26)
set up the Law of the Tithe. The prophets rebuked the children of Israel for failing to give the tithe to
God (Malachi 3:8).
92